Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-28
LAST DAYS OF CONGRESS.
Both Houses to Give Appropriation
Bills the Preference.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-During the
days and nights of the fraction of a week
remaining TO the present session of Con-
gress, the Senate will give instant atten-
tion to conference reports aud general APP
preparation bills whenever any OF them
shall make their appearance, and every
effort will be put forth TO finish necessary
legislation before next Friday noon. The
mem bers of the Appropriations Commit
tee, upon whom the hardest work de-
wolves, are divided In opinion respecting
their ability and that OF the Senate to
creditably accomplish all that is expect
ed, but a majority hope that, barring ac-
cidents and wlllful acts OF obstruction, 1t
may still be found possible to avoid any
necessity for called session OF the Fif-
tieth Congress.
DELIBERATION OUT OF THE QUESTION.
To this end the right of the Senate and
of it's committees to an opportunity for
dellberation upon important matters not
yet brought before ii, will be waived, and
the Senate, as 1t has done in previous
instances Of backwardness, will content
itself, under protest, with such amend
ments to House legislation as it can
secure IN hasty conferences, taking much
for granted and trusting much to luck.
the naval, legislative deficiency aud
fortificatiOn appropriation bills in their
several ordinary stages through the
Senate up to the point Of final action
would require almost as many weeks
as there remain days OF the present ses-
sion.
MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.
The miscellaneous subjects of legisla-
tion which will probably I'LL up the spare
moments are put down IN the caucus pro-
gramme as follows: The labor arbltra-
tiou bill, land grant forfeiture bills, the
bill relating to lottery advertisements
passing through the mails, bills to quiet
land titles. the DesMOInes land grant
bill, the bill authorizing suits against the
United States, bills for the adjudication
of private land claims in certain States
and Territories. the bill for a monument
to cOlOred soldiers, the Joseph Francis
resolution, the bill to reimburse Virginia
and other States for their expenses in the
war of 1872, and the international copy
light bill.
PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.
Senator Miller will call up, about Mon
day or Tuesday, the House pleuro-pneu-
mOnia bill, the pending question being a
motion to reconsider the vote by which
the Edmunds substitute was adopted.
call up for action the bill repeating limI-
tauon TO the arrears OF pensions act, AMI
Mr.. Van Wyck will ask the Senate TO pass
the bill relating to the disposal OF aban-
doned military reservations under the
home mestead law.
A contest is pending in secret session
over the nomination of Public Printer
Benedict, and the British eXtradition
treaty remains among the unfinished
1nft tor .ha nn1n EArrt ;t
is not likely to be further pressed for
action this session.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House the programme is to push
appropriation bills to completion by Civ
ing them precedence over all other bust
ness, and little general legislation is ex-
pected during the remaining days of the
session. The legislative appropriation
bill will again occupy the attention of the
House Monday, and will be followed by
the deficiency bill, which is to be put
through under asuspension OF the rules
During the four legislative days
remaining it will be in order
TO pass any measure by a two.thirds vote
under suspension of the rules. Looking
to this last chance, members who are
charged with the management of impor-
tant measures, such as the Pacific rail-
road inquiry resolution, the department
OF agriculture bill. the pIeuro-pneumonia
bill and the educational bill. will make
every effort to secure recognition by the
Speaker in order to get vote on their bills.
A SLIM CHANCE.
Some very few of these efforts may sue
ceed, but in most cases all chance for
Legislation will be cut off by the presen-
tation and discussion OF conference re-
ports and other privileged matters. It's
understood that no attempt will be made
to pass the fortifications appropriation
bill for this year, that for last year,
which is now in conference, being in.
tended to cover the remainder of the cur
rent, together with the next fiscal year.